NEWS BRIEFS

Vaccine delay

Jamaica's first shipment of COVID-19 vaccines has been pushed back till Monday, March 8 - a few days later than the March 4 arrival date that was previously announced.

The delay was reportedly linked to logistical and scheduling issues.

The shipment of 50,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine were donated by India.

According to the health ministry, the first batch is to be followed by the March 11 arrival of 14,400 doses of the vaccine, procured under the COVAX Facility — a global risk-sharing mechanism for pooled procurement and equitable distribution of eventual COVID-19 vaccines.

Another 1.8 million doses, procured under a deal with the African Medical Supply Platform, is to follow.

The vaccination of Jamaicans is expected to begin 48 hours after the arrival of the first shipment of vaccines on Monday.

CPFSA probe

The Government has ordered an overhaul of the Child Protection and Family Services Agency's (CPFSA) background-check protocols surrounding its programme partnerships.

The action was triggered after a Nationwide News report revealed that the CPFSA has been partnering with a United States-based non-governmental organisation whose executive director’s education certificate had been suspended because of allegations of sexually inappropriate conduct with a minor.

The Ministry of Education did not name the party in its press statement issued late Wednesday but said that portfolio minister Fayval Williams had ordered the CPFSA to sever all relations with the person in question.

An investigation has been launched to determine whether there was any adverse interaction between the executive director and children in state care.

"The minister has expressed concern to the CPFSA that such an individual could have been engaged and that, clearly, the protocols for the protection of children have not been followed," the statement said.

Guard killed in foiled robbery bid

A security guard who was shot during a daring robbery attempt on a Guardsman armoured truck in Santa Cruz on Wednesday died while being treated at hospital, the Santa Cruz police have confirmed.

The deceased man has been identified as 50-year-old Anthony Endem.

About 8:15 a.m., three security guards employed to Guardsman Limited pulled up outside of a Western Union and cambio to drop off cash.

All three guards were hit in the gun attack. The robbers, it is reported, did not escape with the loot.

When contacted on Wednesday evening, Kenneth Benjamin, the executive chairman of the Guardsman Group of Companies, was in shock as he searched for words to reflect his grief.

Director of Communications George Overton expressed condolences to the slain guard’s wife, sons, and extended family.

“We are very saddened by what happened," Overton said.